Smallville Season 5 Episode 22 : Vessel
Synopsis
Professor Fine has unleashed a virus that will kill millions. Clark must put a stop to him, while Lex wonders what will happen when he tells Lana his latest secret.
Full Recap
At the Kent farm, the animals act up and a bright light flashes outside. At the manor, Lex awakens from Lana's embrace and clutches at his head as the light shine through the windows. He barges out and starts driving at speed with Lana following and trying to call him on her cell phone. He comes to a halt and gets out as Lana follows him across a creek and through the woods. In the middle of a field Lex yells to Lana to stay back and then the ground erupts all around him in a circle of dirt and light. A shadow passes overhead and Professor Fine appears behind Lana, saying he's "preparing" Lex, as the black ship appears overhead. A beam of light shines down on Lex and Lana goes into the light, but Lex is gone, and the only thing left is a huge Kryptonian symbol of Zod burned into the ground.
At the Kent farm, Lois is trying to get tickets for Martha when Lionel shows up and offers her transportation. It's clear he's trying to get closer to her. Lana arrives at the Daily Planet to tell Chloe what she saw and she goes to the barn to tell Clark. Chloe warns against Clark listening to Jor-El but Clark goes to the Fortress. Jor-El explains the ship, and Fine, are a single construct that won't stop until Zod is released. Jor-El notes Zod's physical body was destroyed and he needs a vessel. A knife appears and Jor-El tells Clark he must use it to destroy the "vessel" – no matter who it is.
Clark meets with Chloe again and tells her he doesn't plan to kill anyone. Chloe figures that Lex is the vessel and Clark announces he may have to kill Lex… as Lana overhears him from outside the room.
Clark is at the barn considering the knife when Lionel arrives and reveals he's written more warnings from Jor-El. The new warning says "Sacrifice the vessel" and Clark tells Lionel that Lex is the vessel. Back in the field, Lex is lying unconscious within the Zod symbol. He gets to his feet as Lionel arrives and warns him there's nothing he can do. When he reaches for Lex, Lex throws him away with super-strength and into a car window. Lex superspeeds over as Lionel looks on in horror, then Lex goes to the manor. Lana is there and he shoots himself with a gun to reveal that he is bulletproof as well. Lex says it's still him, but Lana backs away in horror momentarily but then comes to him as he confesses he couldn't keep anything secret from her. Lana reveals that she overheard Clark planning to kill him. Lex needs to go and tells Lana she can't come with him but she can meet him on the LutherCorp roof that night.
Clark meets with Lionel who confesses he taught Lex to be completely ruthless, although Clark believes that'll give Lex what he needs to fight back. Lionel warns Clark may have to sacrifice Lex or Lana.
Lois and Martha are boarding Lionel's LuthorCorp plane and Lois warns Martha that it won't be the first time Lionel does her a "favor." Clark arrives at the manor to confront Lex and finds Lana who refuses to betray Lex. She storms out and Fine arrives to taunt Clark and reveal that Clark was to be the vessel. He offers Clark one more chance and says he'll destroy the humans. Fine slaps Lex's laptop computer and every power system in the state begins to shut down.
Clark meets with Chloe at the Daily Planet and she reveals there's a computer virus and it's spreading – every major city in the world will soon be infiltrated. They're interrupted by a car flying in through the window – Clark manages to grab it then go out to save who he can. Before he leaves, Chloe gives him a kiss. They're interrupted when the phone rings and Lex calls.
Lois and Martha are in-flight when they realize the flight has been delayed and they're heading into the mountains. They're unaware that a Fine is flying the plane.
Clark goes to the barn to meet Lex and the two spar verbally before they fight. Clark draws the knife and holds it to Lex's throat and Fine appears to goad him on. Clark refuses and throws the knife into Fine. It glows red as do the lights at the Fortress, and a burst of energy shoots into the sky. Fine reveals Clark has opened the portal to Zod, and the energy slams into Lex and then Fine.
Fine disappears and Lex turns to speak as Zod. Lex/Zod tells Clark that he has no choice but to join him or he will destroy Earth. When Clark refuses, Lex/Zod tosses the circlet out into the sky and it pulls Clark in.
Lois tries to get the pilot's door open without success as the oxygen begins to run out. Martha collapses and Lois manages to open the oxygen masks but collapses before she can get to them.
Riots are breaking out across the world as Chloe makes her way across Metropolis. She spots Lionel's limo and gets in with him, but the mob overwhelm the car and pull them out. Lana is on her way to the Daily Planet, where Lex/Zod is waiting atop it for her, as Lex promised. Lana assures him that she wouldn't fail and Lex/Zod kisses her. And across the globe, the power goes out as Clark hangs suspended within Zod's former prison, drifting off through space.
(to be continued)
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